by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Business Administration and Management involves the study of Business Administration And Management, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Plan, Organize, Direct, And Control The Functions And Processes Of A Firm Or Organization. Includes Instruction In Management Theory, Human Resources Management And Behavior, Accounting And Other Quantitative Methods, Purchasing And Logistics, Organization And Production, Marketing, And Business Decision-Making. Examples: [General Management], [Business Administration]. Continue reading for the important information every general business administration and management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general business administration and management programs.
Nationwide, general business administration and management is a widely-pursued major, with 336,590 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Business Administration and Management Schools ranking analyzes these 2,332 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general business administration and management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general business administration and management programs later in this article.
Programs in General Business Administration and Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general business administration and management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general business administration and management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general business administration and management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general business administration and management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5,093 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 59,540 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 137,205 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 132,098 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,128 |
People currently working in careers related to general business administration and management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general business administration and management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general business administration and management opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general business administration and management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general business administration and management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Logistics Analysts | 688,094 | 1.5% |
| Logistics Engineers | 687,152 | 13.4% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general business administration and management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general business administration and management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general business administration and management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
With 2,332 different general business administration and management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general business administration and management school rankings to help you.
Those considering general business administration and management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
